Gurudwaras of World
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches
Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com
Gateway to Sikhism proudly launches Gurudwaras of World @ www.worldgurudwaras.com on auspicious day of Khalsa Sajna Divas , Vaisakhi April 14th 2012. Worldgurudwaras.com will strive to be most comprehensive directory of Historical Gurudwaras and Non Historical Gurudwaras around the world.
The etymology of the term 'gurdwara' is from the words 'Gur (ਗੁਰ)' (a reference to the Sikh Gurus) and 'Dwara (ਦੁਆਰਾ)' (gateway in Gurmukhi), together meaning 'the gateway through which the Guru could be reached'. Thereafter, all Sikh places of worship came to be known as gurdwaras.
It is a work in progress and We strongly urge the Sikh Cyber Community to contribute to this project by submitting contact information, details, images of Gurudwaras around the world to make this a comprehensive directory.
Sikhism FAQs
Sikhism FAQs:What is the science of religion?
Q2. What is the science of religion? |
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Some people think that religion is contrary to science because religion insists on faith, while science stresses reasoning and proof. But there is something like the science of religion. It includes two things: a general history of religions and the developments of a particular faith. While the science of comparative religion seeks to assess the varieties of religious experiences and a systematic analysis of their development, the history of a particular religion reveals the special features and deeper issues of an individual faith. It studies in depth the change in the forms and expression of a particular religion, the psychological development of particular communities in the matter of dogma and ritual. Connected with the science of religion are the sociological studies of the influence of social forms on the development of religion and psychology of religion which determine the palce of religion in human life.
Theology must be distinguished from the science of religion. While the
first is the pursuit of knowledge in the interests of a creed, the latter
is a factual study of religious experience. Theology is based on the church,
on the dogma. The religious scientist is objective and dispassionate.
Religious science in its braodest sense is a history of ideas and therefore,
has to find general answers to the common problems of life. One of the
important ideas is holiness: what is holy as opposed to profane? Holiness
creates reverential awe: The fear of God. An understanding of the basic
concepts of religion has to be linked up with the practical demands of
active and purposeful living. Metaphysics and the supernatural are beyond
the realm of evidence. Their appreciation will largely depend on the widening
of the frontiers of human knowledge and experience.
The inter-relationship between science and religion has been summed up
by Prof. A. Toynbee as under:
"Science must be based on religion and religion
must include scientific rationality. I think that the words of Albert
Einstein. 'Science without religion is lame and religion without science
is blind', are of even greater importance now than when he uttered them".
